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Weather Allergies
Pollen Allergy and the Weather
Cold Allergy and Heat Allergy
Pollen allergy , better known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis, is an allergy to either plant pollen or fungal spores.
Only the tiny and barely visible pollen are likely triggers of an allergic reaction as they are small enough to float in the air. In other words, grass pollen allergy and tree pollen allergy can only occur when the pollen from wind-pollinated plants becomes airborne and drifts in the prevailing winds until it reaches the airways of an unsuspecting person.
Examples of plants commonly responsible for hay fever include (Wikipedia):
- Trees: such as birch (Betula), alder (Alnus), cedar (Cedrus), hazel (Corylus), hornbeam (Carpinus), horse chestnut (Aesculus), willow (Salix), poplar (Populus), plane (Platanus), linden/lime (Tilia) and olive (Olea). In northern latitudes birch is considered to be the most important allergenic tree pollen, with an estimated 15–20% of hay fever sufferers sensitive to birch pollen grains. Olive pollen is most predominant in Mediterranean regions.
- Grasses (Family Poaceae): especially ryegrass (Lolium sp.) and timothy (Phleum pratense). An estimated 90% of hay fever sufferers are allergic to grass pollen.
- Weeds: ragweed (Ambrosia), plantain (Plantago), nettle/parietaria (Urticaceae), mugwort (Artemisia), Fat hen (Chenopodium) and sorrel/dock (Rumex)
Hot and dry winds are more likely to carry pollen and spores than cool and humid air. In addition, research shows that the presence of thunderstorms and lightning further increases the number of the airborne allergens.
You can read more in my section Respiratory Disorders.
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Weather Allergies - Introduction
As much as one in four of a nation’s population suffers from some form of allergy, and the outlook is not good. The number of patients with allergic symptoms increases by up to 5% every year. The weather plays an important part as it may either trigger or cause an allergic reaction.
Sun Allergies
Amongst sun allergies, the most common form is an itchy and sometimes painful skin irritation known as Polymorphous light eruption (PLE), or polymorphic light eruption (PMLE). PLE is not uncommon as it may affect between 10% to 20% of a nation’s population and all ethnic groups.
Symptoms according to the US National Institute of Health (NIH):
Small red pimples and blisters appear on the skin within 1 - 4 days after exposure to sunlight. The lesions may also appear as scaly skin.
We know that PLE is the result of an immune reaction to ultraviolet light - both UVA and UVB. However, the mechanism is as yet not fully understood. Nevertheless, wearing protective clothing and applying sunscreen are the best methods of preventing the disorder.
Urticaria or hives, as this allergy is known, has many potential triggers. Amongst them can be a reaction to temperature extremes hence the names: cold allergy and heat allergy.
Urticaria is characterized by localized red swollen marks on the skin. These wheals can vary in size and are often accompanied by itching pain. The allergy may even appear when the person swims in cold water and can lead to drowning if the airways are narrowed by the swellings.
Cold and heat allergies usually disappear within a short time and can be prevented by limiting exposure to temperature extremes. In some cases, however, medical intervention could become necessary.
Image source: Wikipedia